Air & Climate

Introduction

Global climate change is having myriad negative impacts throughout the world, including increased frequency and potency of extreme weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, water shortages, declining agricultural production, and spread of diseases. The impacts are particularly pronounced for low-income communities and countries. In addition, institutions that inventory and take steps to reduce their air pollutant emissions can positively impact the health of the campus community, as well as the health of their local communities and regions.

1187 resources

An Economic Perspective on a Carbon Management Program at the University of Michigan

  • University of Michigan (MI)

The recent UN IPCC special report stated that, in order to stay at or below 1.5 degrees of warming, greenhouse gas emissions will need to be reduced by 45 ...


An analysis of vehicular emissions at Kansas State University

  • California State University, Bakersfield (CA)
  • Kansas State University (KS)

There has been a wave of recent interest in understanding the dynamics of vehicular emissions in university towns. Using data from a recent survey of Kansas State University students, faculty ...


Quantifying the Offset of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the University of North Alabama

  • University of North Alabama (AL)

This study quantified the discrete and areal carbon sequestration capacity of the University of North Alabama’s green infrastructure. USDA i-Tree was used to analyze and report on the carbon ...


Solar PV as a mitigation strategy for the US education sector

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (CA)

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is an important strategy to de-carbonize the energy sector in the United States and to reduce the health, environmental, and climate change damages associated with the production ...


The Fear of Not Flying: Achieving Sustainable Academic Plane Travel in Higher Education Based on Insights from South Australia

  • The University of Adelaide (SA)

Universities are both disseminators and producers of the climate knowledge needed to institute the social and cultural change required for climate adaptation and mitigation to occur. They also have the ...


Climate change belief, sustainability education, and political values: Assessing the need for higher-education curriculum reform

  • Vanderbilt University (TN)

Educational attainment is generally a strong predictor of belief in climate change, but prior research indicates that for political conservatives a college education is not always associated with increased belief ...


Teaching Climate Science to Increase Understanding & Receptivity

  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Only about half of Americans are convinced that human activity is the major cause of climate change. This statistic highlights the increased need for high-quality climate science education but also ...


Founder, Students on Sustainability

  • University of Calgary (AB)

I founded Students on Sustainability, a student society at the University of Calgary that educates grade school students on sustainability topics linked to climate change, and supports student action projects ...


Mail and Courier Sustainability Project

  • University of Rochester (NY)

Patricia Van Valkenburgh, University of Rochester Class of 2019, developed, implemented, and completed an initiative to reduce gas emissions from the University Mail Services (UMS) mail fleet, which had recently ...


Interdisciplinary Responses to Climate Change in the University Classroom

  • Husson University (ME)

This case report describes a novel bridge course developed by the authors, entitled, What If They're Right? Individual Responses to Climate Change. The course challenges university students to experiment ...


Development and evaluation of a method to estimate the potential of decarbonisation technologies deployment at higher education campuses

  • University of Limerick

This paper describes a method for the quantitative estimation of the potential of decarbonisation technologies deployed on Higher Education Campuses (HEC). This was developed to fill the need for a ...


University of Vermont Earth Week

  • University of Vermont (VT)

University of Vermont Eco-Reps hosted their annual Earth Week from April 22-26. The theme of the week was POI: Points of Intervention. PLAN: Post Landfill Action Network came to UVM ...


Low Carbon Footprint Dinner - Univ. of Oregon

  • University of Oregon (OR)

During Earth Week the University of Oregon hosted a "Low Carbon Footprint" dinner, featuring foods that have lower carbon emissions from production through to waste. Low Carbon Footprint options were ...


PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies

  • Montclair State University (NJ)

The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies supports transdisciplinary research and community projects that grow more resilient communities worldwide. From climate change research in New Jersey, to energy studies in Vietnam ...

  • Posted May 5, 2019
  • Research Centers & Institutes
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Ireland’s Transition towards a Low Carbon Society: The Leadership Role of Higher Education Institutions in Solar Photovoltaic Niche Development

  • University of Limerick

Ireland is currently considered a laggard within Europe in relation to decarbonisation of its society, with future projections estimating increases in greenhouse gas emissions up to and beyond 2030. To ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Roofs and Pavements: A Case Study at Sapienza University Campus

  • University of Rome Tor Vergata

The progressively emerging concept of urban resilience to climate change highlights the importance of mitigation and adaptation measures, and the need to integrate urban climatology in the design process, in ...

  • Posted April 29, 2019
  • Publications
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Internal Carbon Pricing in Higher Education Toolkit

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Yale University (CT)
  • Second Nature (MA)
  • AASHE (PA)

Colleges and universities are important leaders in preventing the worst impacts of climate change. Pricing carbon is one instrument schools can use to advance climate solutions. This webinar will review ...

  • Posted April 17, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
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Getting to Climate Neutrality: Does Bioenergy from Wood Help or Hurt?

  • Tufts University (MA)
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
  • AASHE (PA)

Bioenergy has been declared a carbon neutral energy source by the US, EU, China, and other governments around the world. In alignment with these national policies, AASHE-STARS and other sustainability ...

  • Posted April 11, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
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Marching Into the Future

  • Carleton University (ON)
  • University of Ottawa (ON)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • Mount Allison University (NB)

Youth activism is influencing university policies on sustainability and climate change. Institutions can measure impact by using AASHE's STARS program.

  • Posted April 4, 2019
  • Publications
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Lafayette becomes first Lehigh Valley college to pledge 'carbon neutrality'

  • Lafayette College (PA)
  • AASHE (PA)

Lafayette College pledges to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 — a first among colleges in the Lehigh Valley.

  • Posted April 4, 2019
  • Publications
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The sustainability of international higher education: Student mobility and global climate change

  • University of Bath

Much literature discusses higher education as an agent for sustainable development, but the extent to which higher education contributes to unsustainable economic and social systems receives less attention. This paper ...

  • Posted March 15, 2019
  • Publications
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Greening to campus Landscape

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)

Convert the campus landscape maintenance equipment from gas electric

  • Posted March 6, 2019
  • Case Studies
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Offsets and RECs: What's the Difference?

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

In encouraging organizations to choose green power for their electricity, the Green Power Partnership frequently explains renewable energy certificates (RECs) - what they are, why they are needed for green power ...

  • Posted Feb. 25, 2019
  • Publications
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Climate Change & Energy Focus (BA in Human Ecology)

  • College of the Atlantic (ME)
  • Effectively advocating for renewable energy and implementing local projects require a range of knowledge and skills. The College of the Atlantic's interdisciplinary curriculum makes it possible to gain a ...

  • Posted Jan. 25, 2019
  • Academic Programs
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The nitrogen footprint for an Australian university: Institutional change for corporate sustainability

  • University of California, Davis (CA)
  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • University of Virginia (VA)
  • University of Melbourne (Victoria)
  • Zhejiang University

Reactive nitrogen (Nr; all species of nitrogen other than N2 gas) is a major cause of air and water pollution, with worldwide costs of billions in human health and ecosystem ...

  • Posted Jan. 25, 2019
  • Publications
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Assessing Air Quality through a Sustainable Educational Model

  • San Diego State University (CA)

The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of a sustainable learning framework through a community-based project in the Southern California region. The Sage Project is a partnership ...

  • Posted Jan. 11, 2019
  • Publications
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Teaching the health impacts of climate change in many American higher education programs

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

Climate change is the greatest threat to global health today and it challenges professionals in many disciplines. Most American university programs lack courses covering the rising deaths and illnesses from ...

  • Posted Jan. 11, 2019
  • Publications
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Reduce Peak Demand and Increase Grid Stability with On-Site Energy Storage

  • Austin Community College (TX)

SHINES, or Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar, is a three-year project focused on making solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources. The goals of this project ...

  • Posted Dec. 21, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Sustainability and academic air travel in Australian universities

  • RMIT University

Air travel is becoming increasingly recognized as a source of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. This is particularly relevant for the university sector, which relies heavily on staff ...

  • Posted Dec. 11, 2018
  • Publications
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Assessment of Ecological Footprint and Sustainability Analysis of Debre Berhan University in Ethiopia

  • Debre Berhan University

Ecological footprint is an environmental tool to assess the environmental impacts and resource consumption by the operations and activities in a given area. This approach, to make university campus area ...

  • Posted Nov. 26, 2018
  • Publications
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Do Dorm Move-Out Waste Reduction Programs Really Reduce Carbon Emissions?

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

A team of engineering researchers at the University of Arizona, led by Dr. Paul Blowers and undergraduate student Nick Deak, measured the carbon footprint associated with materials collected during a ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Mitigating Air Travel Emissions: Measuring, Pricing and Collaboration

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Duke University (NC)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
  • University of Maryland, College Park (MD)

Presenters will discuss their approaches to tracking airline miles, estimating emissions, and counter-acting these emissions. Carbon neutral air travel requires data availability to accurately estimate emissions, but perhaps a larger ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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A Sustainable Parking Framework and Strategies to Encourage More Sustainable Transportation

  • Thompson Rivers University (BC)

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is transitioning from a commuter campus to an urban campus with a vibrant heart. Guiding the process are strategic sustainable priorities consistent with the United Nations ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Environmental Impact and Cost Savings Data for Low Speed Electric Vehicles on College Campuses

  • Polaris Industries (MN)

In this discussion we will review environmental and financial data from two separate universities that have reduced their carbon footprint and the cost of their campus fleet operations through the ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Sustainable for Your Bottom Line: Electric Buses and Simple Infrastructure for Your Campus Fleet.

  • Proterra (CA)

Campuses are growing and evolving, and with that, our transportation needs are changing. Now more than ever, we need smart solutions that provide safer, more reliable and cleaner transit. As ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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How University Transportation Practitioners are Transforming USGBC's Global Transportation Emphasis

  • Cornell University (NY)
  • Stanford University (CA)
  • U.S. Green Building Council (DC)
  • Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MA)

Transportation is the fastest growing source of global C02 emissions. Two years ago, the USGBC added Parksmart, a parking-structure and transportation certification program, into its suite of offerings. Universities have ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Internal Carbon Tax: Methods and Results from the First Rigorous Willingness-to-Pay Study

  • University of Oregon (OR)

Internal carbon fees raise awareness, incentivize behavior changes, and create revenue streams to reduce emissions. While there are a substantial number of internal carbon pricing programs in the private sector ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Urban Forestry and Community Engagement - the Chemis-tree of Successful Partnerships

  • Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is an urban research university located in downtown Richmond, Virginia. With greenhouse gas mitigation goals looming, VCU established the VCU Urban Forestry Collaborative (VUFC) - a unique ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Climate Lab: Taking the Gloom out of the Doom

  • University of California, Office of the President (CA)

Let's face it - thinking about climate change and sustainability - and what to do about these pressing issues - can be downright depressing. People don't want to hear about starving ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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UC3: The Research University's Role in Place-Based, Cross-Sector Climate Action

  • University of California, Office of the President (CA)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • Second Nature (MA)

The University Climate Change Coalition, or UC3, is a coalition of 13 leading North American research universities that are prototyping a collaborative model designed to help local communities achieve their ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Learning from our Future: Engaging Youth in Climate Justice

  • University at Buffalo (NY)

How do we build a truly inclusive climate justice movement that values every voice and experience? Engage young people. They have a lot to say, and are eager to say ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Climate Memes: Undergraduates Making Climate Data Go Viral

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)

On Earth Day 2017, Climatepedia boothed in Pershing Square at the March for Science-Los Angeles. Students from the University of California, Irvine branch of the organization displayed their signs at ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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All We Need is Political Will: Empowering Students on Civic Engagement on Climate Change

  • Juniata College (PA)
  • University of Pittsburgh (PA)
  • U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
  • Citizens' Climate Lobby (CA)

At this critical time in our nation's history, the need to transition to a clean energy economy and a just and equitable society is more urgent than ever. Young ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Adapting Portfolios to Climate Change: 2 Degrees Investing

  • Natixis Investment Managers (MA)

Green bonds are growing: Between 2015 and 2016 worldwide issuances of green bonds nearly doubled from $41 billion to $80 billion. The growth trajectory continued in 2017, as issuances for ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Solutions for Evaluating Projects: Quadruple Bottom Line & Financial Models for Climate Neutrality

  • Cornell University (NY)

It's time to move the conversation beyond 'financing climate neutrality.' In order to move away from traditional financial, single bottom line decision making for large capital investments, institutions must ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Grounds for Change: Electrifying CSUN's Landscaping Equipment

  • California State University, Northridge (CA)

Driven by CSUN's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, Facilities Planning staff worked with The University's Grounds Shop to test and purchase electric string trimmers, leaf blowers and a ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Estimating Greenhouse Gas and Water Reduction Through Food Labeling at a University Dining Facility

  • Villanova University (PA)

As one of the most basic requirements for survival, food plays a massive role in how humans interact, not merely with one another, but also with the environment. The diet ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Scaling UP Renewable Energy Beyond Campus

  • Cornell University (NY)
  • State University of New York at Cortland (NY)

The Paris Agreement (at the moment) represents civilizations best path forward for global action and accountability of our collective reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions. What happens when a significant ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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University of Denver's Renter Efficiency Program for Students

  • University of Denver (CO)

The University of Denver's Renter Efficiency Program for Students offers free energy audits to students who are renting off campus houses or apartments. The goal of these energy audits ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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Bates College Conversion to Burn New Wood-Based, Liquid Fuel in Central Steam Plant

  • Bates College (ME)

Bates College has begun burning a new, wood-based liquid fuel in its central steam plant - the first college in the country to do so. This new fuel, called Renewable Fuel ...

  • Posted Nov. 5, 2018
  • Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

OP 1: Emissions Inventory & Disclosure

OP 2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Air & Climate Partners